Extensible table



H. AND C. WINBERG. EXTENSIBLE TABLE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 24, 1919 1,363,631.

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H. AND G. WI NBERG.

EXTE NSIBLE TABLE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1919.

Patented Dec. 28,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Harry 5027250519 C/mz'Zw' 50, 22220;

' fifiornqya H- AND C. WINBERG. EXTENSIBLE TABLE,

1 36 ,631 a APPLICATION F!LED MAR. 24.

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Patented Dec. 28,1924.

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EXTENSIBLE TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed March 24, 1919. Serial No. 284,542.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HARRY W YNBERG andCHARLES humane, citizens of Sweden, residing at Waltham, in the countyof Middlesex and State of lilassachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Extensible Tables, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in extensible tables. More.particularly it relates to dining room tables and the like in which ashitherto constructed it is customary for the table top to be made in twohalves that can be pulled apart for filling pieces or boards to beinserted between them. Such boards ordinarily'are unsightly, have to bestored in some other part of the house, are heavy and clumsy for womento transport, and are otherwise objectionable. in houses where it isnecessary to reduce the table after each meal, the work involved inhandling the filling boards amounts in total to an appreciable burden. tis an object of the present invention to provide for storing the fillingpieces within the top of the table itself; to arrange so that they arequickly and conveniently put into use, with the table extended more orless as desired, and are with equal ease returned to their places ofstorage. It is another object to accomplish this by means which areconvenient and unobtrusive, the mechanical appliances incidentallyinvolved being concealed from view, and in a measure automatic.Specifically, it is one featureto accomplish this by the use of.flexible filling boards, and to provide supports and mechanism forguiding and holding them while set, while retired, andin transition. Itis another feature to provide movable rails which automatically retireto positions of concealment below the top when the table is closed andwhich rise to the level of the table top to coact with and. constituteguides for the flexible filling parts as and when the table top isextended. Further features of the invention are to provide the otheradvantages that characterize the structure set forth herein as anillustrative embodiment of the invention; but it will be understood thatthe features of the invention may beapplied in various ways. It isintended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in theappended claims, whatever features oi patentable novelty exist in theinvention disclosed.

The accompanying drawings represent a table having three possible stagesof exten- S1011.

Figure 1 is a plan of the table, in its. extreme stage of extension;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table, contracted;

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the same on a larger scale, the outsiderim being in section on the medial plane;

Fig. 5 is the same, but with the table top in the first complete stageof extension;

Fig. 6 is the same, but with the top extended to the third and finalcomplete stage;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation, in section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation, in section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5, aswhen the top is extended to either stage;

Fig. 9 is a detail seen in end elevation on a larger scade, showing astop and the releasings. therefor which act at the time of thecompletion of the first stage and in preparation for proceeding to thesecond stage;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of a detail affecting the parts shown inFig. 9, in section on the line 1010 01"- Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan with the top removed, as in section on the line 11-l1of Fig. 2, showing the table fully extended, but with the fillingsections in their position of retirement;

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of a detail, the interlocking supportbetween the two halves of a filler.

The drawings represent the upper part oi a table, which may have anysuitable sort of base from which a pedestal 1O rises, carrying' a rigidframe for the top comprising longitudinal bars 11, cross bars 12, 12, 12and 12', and an ornamental circular dependrim 13, the relations of whichparts are best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 11. The top proper has two halves14 and 14, movable between the closed contracted or reduced positionshown in Fig. 3, and the extended position shown in Figs. 2 and 1. Inthe latter, the filling pieces 15, 15, 1.6, 16', 17, 17 are seen in useas a part of the table top as are also the depressible rails or guides22 and 22'. The general principle of the invention is that each fillingboard is in halves capable table. These are flexible, being capable ofbending on the lines seen in Fig. 1; and are shiftable from the positionseen in Figs. 1 and 8 to that of Fig. 7. In the course of. shifting eachhalf of a filling board moves toward the other side, dips downward, andturns back underneath where it stays concealed within the dependingcircular rim and frame. a

The construction by which this is brought about is as follows:

One-half of the table top rests upon a. pair of slides 21, fitted on theouter sides of V the longitudinal members 11 of the frame, and the otherhalf rests upon a similar pair of slides marked 21 and fitting on theinner sides of the same slide-carrying members 11 of the frame, as mostclearly seen in Fig.11.

The sections of table top maybe secured to these sliding pieces in anysuitable way, their fastening thereto being indicated in Fig. 11 byscrew holes 20 in the parts 21 and 21.

The middle abutting edges of the two halves 14, 14, of the table tophave grooves 30, 30, one in the lower part of the upper half of the edgesurface of each, as seen in Figs. 4.- and 10, and a recessed portion 31,31

in the lower half of each ofthose edge surfaces. Adapted to be receivedwithin the recesses 31, 31, are two rails or guiding strips 22, 22,which rails extend crosswise of the table and have in the lower halvesof both of their edge surfaces grooves 32, 32, 33, 33 like the othergrooves. The grooves are conveniently constituted by making a rectangu--lar recess in the lower half of the edge and by adding me allic plates30, set into the under-side of the table top, and fastened on i theunder-side of the rails, so as to make the third side of the groove.These plates, which extend entirely across the table except for break inthe middle as seen in Fig. 7,

v are conveniently held in place y screws, as

seen in Fig. 10. The grooves thus made serve to guide the edges of theflexible fillers when the parts having them are properly posit oned. Theshifting of the rails from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to that ofFigs.

2 and l, is accomplished automatically by the pulling of the table tophalves 14, 1e apart. and by the setting of the fillers. The way ofaccomp shing it is perhaps best seen by considering Figs. 4. 5 and 6.Each of the I ra ls 22. 22' carries a block. like that shown at 23.which may be secured to it bydeeply sunken screws. one of which is seenin Fig. 9, h ch block in side elevation has the peculiar form seen inFig. i, with a bottom edge incli ed upward in the direction in which theblock moves to extend the table, and with its lower part proiecting inthe same direction as shown infull lines in Fig. 4-, forming 24? of theblock 24. The latter is fixed on one of the rigid members 12 of theframe,

as seen in Fig. 9, where one of its fastening screws 24 is represented.The members 12 and 12 of the frame are so fixed in position, and thevarious blocks are so located with respect to themand to the rails andto each other, that when the block 23 is moved to the left, in Fig. 4,the'high and leading end of the lower edge of block 23 strikes on thecam surface of block 24 and is raised to the level shown in Fig. 5, withits lug 23 hooked under the lug 24*, thus carrying the rail 22 from thedepressed position illustrated in Fig. 4 to the raised and ready for useposition illustrated in Fig. 5, and stopping it there. Such a movementis brought to pass by the action of the pin 25 whose position is seen inFig. 4C a little to the right of the rear edge of block 23 which it isto engage. This pin, as seen more in detail in Fig. 9, is mounted in thelongitudinal moving slide 21 and moves with it when the table top half14 that is fast to that slide is pulled to the left, Fig. 1 or 4-, toopen the table. These pins 25 project far enough, one on each side ofthe table, as seen in Fig. 9, to engage the blocks 23, of which there isone at each side of the table, and to pull them along to the positionillustrated in Fig. 5, thus setting up their attached rail 22. Themovement ofrthe slides 21' caused by the pulling of the other half 14 ofthe table top produces a similar eti'ect with the rail 22 and this pairof rails thus are spread and elevated into positions such that thefilling board 15, 15' can be set between them, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Further movement of the slides 21, 21 is now prevented because the pins25 therein are against the blocks 23 which are arrested by the blocks24, and the first stage of extension'is ready to be completed bythesetting of the tillers. The doing of this automatically releases thepins 25 so that the slides can move further, for further exten sion. 7

The fillers 15, 15, 16, 16, 17, 17', are flexible sheets, preferablymade of strips of wood glued on cloth or other fabric 35 in the mannerof the flexible covers customary in roll top desks. The strips 37 thatare on the outside of the curve, are soplaced that they abut againsteach other and make a continuous smooth surface when the filler is drawninto a plane by entering the straight grooves. The backing pieces 36 arerounded to permit bending of the composite fabric, and have their endsengaged either in guiding grooves 38 in the sides of the frame members12 or in the grooves 33, 33' in the rails 22. 22'. The communication isthrough the space left for that purpose in the midw en dle between thetwo sections of plates 30, as seen in Fig. 7. The line on which thissection is indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 cuts this filler but, for bettershowing, the filler is represented as if uncut. The grooves 38 on oneside of the table communicate with the grooves 30, 32 or 33 on the otherside of the table. These grooves are recurved so that the half fillersection, which on sliding into its groove starts toward the oppositeside of the table, curves around and heads toward its original side ofthe table and there comes to rest, overlapping the other half tillersection which does likewise in the opposite direction. To draw forth thefiller sections little tabs 39 may be provided; and for holding securelytogether their ends, which come up last into the groove 38, a tongue 40(Figs. 7 and 12) on one of them is adapted to engage in a socket plate41 at the adjacent end of the other, this connection being in the middleof thetable top. As each of these sections stands up to the very middle,it interferes with the shifting of the other section between the grooves33 and 38; but this interference is easily avoided by backing one ofthem a short distance in its groove 30 and thus clearing the middlespace so that the other can be shifted down into its groove 38, afterwhich the first one may be shifted into its groove 38. The act ofsetting the filling sections 15, 15' in the table top after the rails 22have been shifted into the position shown in Fig. 5, causes withdrawalof the pins 25 from their engagement with the blocks 23, which is shownin Fig. 5, by the means which is indicated very clearly in Fig. 9.wherein the small lever 26 is seen arranged in a suitable small slot inthe sliding piece 21 and pivoted at 27 so as at one end to engage theembedded part of the abutment pin 25 and at its other end to project upa little above the slide 21, far enough to be itself engaged by a lug 28carried on one of the slats composing the filler section 15'. When thisfiller section is drawn from the retired position of Fig. 7, to the setposition of 8. the lug 28 encounters the lever 26 and pushes theupstanding end of this lever so that the other end of the lever pushesthe abutment pin 25 into slide 21. against the spring 29, and holds itthus so long as the, filler section. remains in place. The pin 25, beingthus made free to move past the blocks 23 and 2+l, permits the furtherwithdrawal of the slide 21 and table top 14 from the position of to thatof Fig. 6. This movement can proceed until the ultimate stop block 42 onthe slide 21 engages the block 2?). The dimensions are so arranged thatthis occurs when the groove 30 of the edge of the table top is at asuitable distance from the groove 32 in the rail 22 to receive thetiller sections 16 and 16 when pulled up out of their storage grooves inthe frame pieces l2 and 12 corresponding to grooves 38 on themiddle-facing side of the frame piece 12 heretofore mentioned. Thesesections having thus been drawn up, and the sections 17 and 17 at theother end of the table having been drawn up similarly upon thewithdrawal of the half 14: of the table top, the complete extended topis made, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The extension can be stopped ateither stage. The filler sections are removed by reversing the processof extension. The section 16, for example, is first shifted a little inthe direction which is upward in Fig. 1 in order to draw the tongue 40out of the socket t1 and to open the path into the groove 38; and thenthe section 16 is pushed down into said groove 38 followed by thepushing of section 16 down into the other part of the same groove. Thefiller sections 17 and. 17 are similarly treated, and sections 15 and15. The back of the pin 26 may be beveled so that the table top halves14 and 14' can be returned to their inward limits, with each of thesepins slipping by its block 24. As the slides 21 move inward, the tabletopll engages the rail 22 while it remains held at the top level byblock 24, pan ticularly if this movement be executed before the centralfiller sections 15 and 15 are put down. When those have been put down,on further inward movement of the table top 14 the upper part of itsedge pushes the rail 22 oil of the block 24, and the lowerpart of saidedge then pushes it the rest of the way to the position shown in Fig. i.The similar parts at the other end of the table are likewise movedtoward the center; and when the two parts of the top come together, therails 22 and 22 simultaneously come together.

The pin 25 is set at a little distance from the block 23 which itengages, so that on opening the top the part 14 travels from itspositions distance equal to the width of the rail 22 before the pinengages the block 23 to begin the movement of that rail. Thus the partof the top which covers the rail 22 when inclosed condition, Fig. 4-, isout of the way so as not to obstruct the raising oi the rail by the camblock 24. To accommodate the lever 26 for operating this pin. a suitablerecess 45 is provided in the opposite half table top. 7

The operation oi the table is very simple. It is only required to pull.the top apart far as it will go, and then to pull up central fillersections 15, 15. If it is desired to extend the table further. the topmay then be pulled further open. having been automatically unlocked forthis purpose by the pulling up of the central filler sections; and againit will stop at the proper place for the pulling up of either or bothof. the next filler sections. Upon closing, the table is left in neatand finished form, showing only the customary crack in the middle of thetop. Obviously, the invention may be applied with the use of a differentnumber of filler sections, and may be varied in other respects withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention 7 1. An extensible table having a top-framecombined with top halves that slide apart thereon; filling boardsadapted to intervene between thetop-halves; and movable rails adapted tointervene between the filling boards and the top-halves; there beinggrooves in said top-halves and 1n said rails adapted to receive and holdthe filling boards.

2. Anextensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and depressible rails adapted torise to the top level and to hold the boards when raised, and to becovered by the top-halves when'depressed.

3. An extensible table having a top-frame rails adapted to hold theboards when raised, and to be covered by the top-halves when depressed;there being cams actuated by the top-halves for raising said rails.

5. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and depressible rails adapted tohold the boards when raised, and to be covered by the top halves whendepressed; there being cams actuated by the top -halves for raising saidrails, and stops adapted to limit the rising movement of the rails tothe level of the top halves.

6; An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails adapted to hold them.saidrails being separate from the top-halves, assembled at the middle ofthe table top when the table is closed and being shiftable therefrom inthe endwise direction of-the table to their board-holding positions.

7. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; rails adapted to hold them, saidrails being separate from the top-halves, assembled at the middle of thetable top when the table is closed; and

means connected with the top-halves to pull the rails therefrom to theirboard-holding positions.

8. An extensible table havinga top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; rails adapted to hold them, saidrails being assembled at the middle of the table top when the table isclosed; and means connected with the tophalves to pull the railstherefrom to their board-holding positions, comprising pins set in thesliding members, and depending blocks fixed to the rails and adapted tobe engaged by said pins.

9. An extensible table having atop-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails adapted to hold them,said rails being assembled at the middle of the table top when the tableis closed and being shiftable' therefrom in the endwise direction of thetable to their boardholding positions; blocks depending from the rails;and stops on the frame, adapted to limit movement of the blocks at theposition where the rails register with the frame for holding the fillingboards.

10. An extensible table having a topframe combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; rails adapted to hold them, saidrails being assembled at the middle of the table top when the table isclosed; and means connected with the tophalves to pull the railstherefrom to their board-holding positions, comprising pins set in thesliding members, and depending blocks fixed to the rails and adapted tobe engaged by said pins; and members automatically releasing theengagement of pin with block, permitting the pin to pass the block. i

11. An extensible table having a topframe combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; rails adapted to hold them, saidrails being assembled at the middle of the table top when the table isclosed; and means connected with the tophalves to pull the railstherefrom to their board-holding positions, comprising pins set in thesliding members, and depending blocks fixed to the rails and adapted tobe engaged by said pins; and means automatically actuated by the settingof the filling boards for releasing the engagement of pin with block andpermitting the pin to pass the block.

12. An extensible table having a topframe combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails adapted to hold them,said rails being assembled at the middleof the table top when the tableis closed and being shiftable therefrom in the endwise direction of thetable to their board-holding positions; blocks depending from the rails;and stops on the frame, adapted to limit the movement of the blocks atthe position where the rails register with the frame for holding thefilling boards; automatic releasing means for said stops, and furtherstops for the tophalf in position where the top-half and the outer edgeof the previously stopped rail are properly spaced for receiving afilling board.

13. An extensible table having a top-frame combined. with top-halvesthat slide apart thereon; filling boards; rails adapted to hold themsaid rails being assembled at the middle of the table top when the tableis closed; and means connected with the top-halves to pull the railstherefrom to their boardholding positions, comprising pins set in thesliding members, and depending blocks fixed to the rails and adapted tobe engaged by said pins; and means automatically actuated by the settingof the filling boards for releasing the engagement of pin with block andpermitting the pin to pass the block; the pin being spring-pressedoutward and the said release being a lever arranged to be moved inwardwith the pin by the setting movement of a filling board.

14L. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halvesthat slide apart thereon; and filling boards and rails, which when thetable is extended occupy positions in the top between said halves; thesaid rails and top-halves having grooves whereby they cooperate witheach other and with the filling boards in forming an extended top.

15. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; and filling boards and rails, which when the tableis extended occupy positions on the top between said halves; the saidrails and top-halves having grooves whereby they cooperate with eachother and with the filling boards in forming an extended top; and meanswhereby said filling boards and rails are stored under the top-halveswhen the table is closed. 7

16. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails for them interveningbetween the top-halves, the edges thereof having grooves to receive thefilllng boards; and there being also grooves for the filling boards inthe frame under the tophalves; said grooves communicating in the middlefor passage of the filling boards from one set of grooves to the other.

17 An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards;- and rails for them interveningbetween the top-halves, the edges thereof having grooves to receive thefilling boards; and there being also grooves for the filling boards inthe frame under the tophalves; said grooves communicating in the middlefor passage of the filling boards from one set of grooves to the other;and the grooves in the frame being below and sepaits level in themiddle.

18. An extensible table having a top-frame rated from the level of thetop but rising to combined with top-halves that slide apart thereon,filling boards; and rails for them intervening between the top-halves,the edges thereof having grooves to receive the filling boards; andthere being also grooves for the filling boards in the frame under thetophalves; said grooves communicating in the middle for passage of thefilling boards from one set of grooves to the other, the course ofgrooves in the frame extending by a curve into reverse direction.

19. an extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon, filling boards; and rails for them interveningbetween the top-halves the edges thereof having grooves to receive thefilling boards; and there being also grooves for the filling boards inthe frame under the tophalves; said grooves communicating in the middlefor passage of the filling boards from one set of grooves to the otherthe course of grooves in the frame extending by a curve into reversedirection with their ends overlying each other. i

20. An extensible table having a top-fra1ne combined with top-halvesthat slide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails for them interveningbetween the top-halves, the edges thereof having grooves to receive thefilling boards; and there being also grooves for the filling boards inthe frame under the top-halves; said grooves communicating in the middlefor passage of the filling boards from one set of grooves to the otner;the grooves in the rails being open at the edges of the table whereby afilling board section can be backed cut, away from the middle to permitpassage of its complementary section.

21. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails for them interveningbetween the top-halves, the edges thereof having grooves to receive thefilling boards; and there being also grooves for the filling boards inthe frame under the top-halves; said grooves communicating in the middlefor passage of the filling boards from one set of grooves to the other;said grooves in the rails and top-halves being formed as a rabbet in thecorner and made moved thence dewnward through the middle into the framegrooves.

23. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails for them intervening botveen the tophalves, the edges thereof having grooves to receive thefilling boards; and there being also grooves for the filling boards inthe frame under the top-halves; said grooves communicating in the middlefor passage of the filling boards from one set'of grooves to the other;said filling boards being each in two sections, one for each side of thetable, adapted to be moved thence downward through the middle into theframe grooves, and means whereby the two sections interlock whenabutting together in the top.

94. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; rails for holding them, depressiblefrom the top level and shiftable in the direction of .the length of thetable; and means on the frame to support said rails when raised.

25. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; rails for holding them, depressiblefrom the top level and shiftable in the direction of the length of thetable; and means, comprising a support on the frame, toraise said rails.

26. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; flexible filling boards; and movable rails forholding them; the rails moving lengthwise of the table and the fillingboards crosswise of the table, in shifting between positions of storageand of use.

27. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon, and filling boards arranged in storage in saidframe in a plurality of positions along the longitudinal travel; therebeing a movable formation of the top adapted to receive them and meanswhereby said formation can be set and automatically stopped in positionsregistering successively with said storage positions before the saidboard in the particular position is removed therefrom. r

28. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails adapted to hold them inthe top, said rails being depressible to storage positions; there beingrecesses rabbeted in the adjacent edges of said top-halves for housingsaid rails when depressed.

29. An extensible table having a top-frame combined with top-halves thatslide apart thereon; filling boards; and rails adapted to hold them,saidrails being assembled between the top-halves and within-the planesformed by the upper and lower sides of the top-halves when the table isclosed and be ing shiftable therefrom in the endwise direction of thetable to their board-holding positions. 7

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this fifteenth day of March, 1919-. V

HARRY WINBERG. CHARLES WINBERG.

